On January 12, an organization named "Students for Sovereignty" staged a protest in Motijheel, surrounding the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB). Their demands included the removal of graffiti containing the word "Adibasi" (indigenous) from the back cover of the Bengali Grammar and Composition textbook for classes nine and ten. Responding to this demand, NCTB decided to replace the graffiti. The revised version, now available as a PDF on NCTB’s website, features a new text that reads, "Bol Bir/ Chiro Unnata/ Mama Shir" (Speak boldly, my head held high), replacing the previous graffiti. Following this decision, an image began circulating on social media with the caption “Restore the graffiti,” sparking claims about its authenticity.
Fact-check
Rumor Scanner’s investigation revealed that the circulated image was not authentic. It was digitally edited to include the words "Irreligious" and "Atheist" in the graffiti. A reverse image search identified a report published in Prothom Alo’s online edition on November 29, 2024, which contained the original image. While the circulated image and the Prothom Alo image appear similar, the graffiti in the Prothom Alo version did not contain the words "Irreligious" and "Atheist."
Additional keyword searches located a Facebook post by Dhaka University faculty member Samina Luthfa, which included an image identical to the one in Prothom Alo’s report. Upon verification, this image also lacked the contested words.
Closer examination of the circulated image showed clear discrepancies: the sections of the graffiti containing "Irreligious" and "Atheist" were distinct and inconsistent with the rest of the graffiti. These parts were added digitally to the original image.
To further verify, Rumor Scanner used the FotoForensics website. This analysis confirmed that the areas containing "Irreligious" and "Atheist" differed visually from the rest of the image, confirming the use of digital editing tools.
The claim that the image features original graffiti with the words "Irreligious" and "Atheist" is false. The circulated image was digitally altered to include these words, making it an edited version of the original graffiti.
Original News Link: https://rumorscanner.com/fact-check/altered-picture-of-july-graffiti/135064
Fact-Check Alert
Please be aware of misleading information about Bangladesh politics on social media and verify sources before sharing.
Before sharing any photocard, always verify it by checking the original media source.
Sharing religious misinformation and disinformation can cause harm. Always verify before sharing.
Before sharing any photocard, always verify it by checking the original media source.
Sharing religious misinformation and disinformation can cause harm. Always verify before sharing.